Asterophora Ditmar ex Link 1809 versus Nyctalis Fries 1825, and the statusof Ugola Adanson 1763

The use of two generic names, Asterophora and Nyctalis, for the same fungi (holomorphs) has been contradictory, and nomenclatural application remains unresolved after 175 years. Controversy first arose from a lack of understa nding of the biology of these pleomorphic fungi, but debate now rests upon the interpretation of the type of Asterophora, either as an anamorph or a t eleomorph, as influenced by modifications to Article 59 of the Internationa l Code of Botanical Nomenclature over several decades. The historical recor d is reviewed and Asterophora is accepted as the holomorphic generic name f or three species, A. lycoperdoides, A. parasitica, and A. mirabilis. Astero phora lycoperdoides (Bull.) Ditmar is proposed separately for conservation over a sanctioned name, Asterophora agaricoides Fr.:Fr, previously largely ignored. Ugola is the oldest. generic name applicable to the anamorphs. The following new combinations are proposed: Ugola physaroides (equivalent to Asterophora physaroides), U, baryana (equivalent to Hypomyces baryanus), an d Asterophora mirabilis (equivalent to Nyctalis mirabilis).